Chicago Mahler 5 at Carnegie Hall

I just returned from hearing Chris Martin play Mahler 5 at Carnegie Hall. This was an excellent performance and it looks like the Chicago Symphony has a "keeper"as their new principal trumpet. Chris did a wonderful job.

I saw something I've never seen before. Just after the last movement ended, Barenboim did not acknowledge the audience (which was going crazy) but remained on the podium with his back to the house. Then, the first thing he did was give Chris a solo bow. The audience rose en masse. Quite an introduction to New York City for the new solo trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra! Barenboim then gave each brass and woodwind principal a solo bow.

Mr. Martin is doing an amazing job. I also heard them do Mahler 5 a few weeks ago and it was a performance that just brought one of those uncontrollable smiles to my face (you know what Iâ€™m talking about?) and sent me home in a daze. It was the most amazing live performance of anything Iâ€™ve ever seen. They are amazing players and Iâ€™m glad to have them in my home town.

I heard the Chris play Mahler 5 here last year with the ASO the day before he went up to audition. He is not only a great player, but also a humble guy. I hope you guys in Chicago enjoy hearing him as much as I did the years he was down here in Atlanta.

Yesterday I played a concert with the sister of a Chicago Symphony brass player (6th degrees of separation?) who told me he was offered tenure. The orchestra also selected a new principal oboe. An historic day for the CSO.

From what I read on these postings, the trumpet gets a good workout in the Mahler 5. Does this occur in any particular movement(s)... solos, etc.? (I'm not familiar with this work, but soon will be, I'm sure).